Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-02-25
POLYTE.

A happy home that of the Sigaults -
the husband John, a sober workman, his
wife There,a, gentle and honest. . To
complete the family an urchin nine years
OF age, Monsieur Polyte-a very imp,
said his father, and with that always the
6rst in school.
John Sigault was a skilful molder.
Theresa was known as the most tasteful
mlliner of Montmartre.
All that little world lived without any
other care but the future of Monsieur
Polyte., Father and mother prepared to
drain themselves when that would be-
come necessary, as Polyte had already
shown some inclination toward the learn
ing of an art whose apprenticeship costs
great deal. John had a friend named
Robert, stonecutter employed in the
studio of a celebrated sculptor. The
child had been admitted, in the contem-
platlon of the worldrenowned artist of
whom the two workmen spoke, as a
demigod. At first Monsieur PoIyte was
lntlmidated; then he familiarized him
self when he saw the great man. Moth
ing was less imposing than this short old
fellow, wearing blouse abominably
maculated, occupying himself in the
making of small balls of sticky clay
with his clammy fingers. This cry from
the heart es aped from the lips of this
Partisan gamin: "Papa when 1 am
big l will be sculptor, because at least
that is dirty"
The member of the Institute de
France, who was kind of wag, de-
clared that this exclamation might pass
for an unequivocal manifestation of an
artists vocation. The good parents did
not go further.
From this memorable day, when
Theresa had to work late in cutting, re-
pairing and washing the clothes and
linen of ''he1 men," she said to the boy:
llright now, only when 1 cannot work
any more, Monsieur, the sculptor, it is
you who shall work for me-"
Then from an early period Polyte was
taught that the destinies of his family
would rest one day entirely on his con-
duct and labor.
Besides, John Sigault had been SOL
dler and his moral education of his child
bore marks of his military life. Early
he took care to develop the sentiment of
res, onsibility in his son by making him
believe that, in some time to come, he
would have to support his parents.
So 1T was, when the molder left
Theresa alone in the house, he said to
Polyte: "Boy, l am going out and place
mamma under your protection; you stand
sentinelw
And Polyte, honored with such high
confidence, would have allowed any one
to make mince meat of him rather than
go out and play with the other urchins
of the neighborhood.
Those humble people, so quiet, so low
ing, so united, were too happy. That
could not last long.
The 18th of July, 1870, the declara-
ton of war to Germany was published in
Paris From that day John was not the
same man. That model of a workman,
having absolutely nothing to do in the
shop, expended his whole time in the
reading of newspapers. One evening he
came hom", pale with rage. The Ger
mans were n sight of Paris
During the following night he had
the fever-a patriotic one. Ills despair
broke out into terrific invectives against
his egotism OF happy husband and a
timorous father; so much that Theresa,
although she had nothing of a heroine in
her, ended by plagiarizing that famous
phrase; "And now, go to fight"
And he went.
In a few days he had won again his SER
geant's stripes. One morning he paid q
visit to his W fe and child He was mad
with Joy. His colonel has granted him a
twel hours furlough and given him the
military medal awarded to the sergeant
by the republic for the bravery he had
displayed in the several encounters with
the Germans. He could not get TWEEN
ty-four hours leave of absence because
his regiment had to make a sortie on the
following night. Friend Robert, the
stone-cutter, called upon John to present
him with his congratulations for the
honor that he had received from the gov
ernment. lie offered to watch over the
sergeant's house during his absence.
John, who knew the parsonage as unfit
TO watch over any house, replied smiling
" Many thanks. | have here a rigid
sentinel; is that not true, Polytel"
" OF course, answered that embryo of
man, with the inimitable accent of the
poisson of Paris, and raising himself on
the point of his feet.
Yes, he was to be rigid sentinel, the
poor child, as from this day nothing was
heard of John Sigault in the modest
apartment of Montmartee After that
sortie the squad of the brave sergeant had
returned without their chief killed or
taken during the battle they would not
say-in any case he was missing.
Since the month of March, 1871, pow
erty had stricken hard the home previ
ously so contented The slowly gathered
resources had foundered quickly. The.
resa, worn out by disquetude and priva.
tions, fell sick, and the terrible days OF
the Commune happening unexpectedly
the situation of the mother and child be,
came very critical
The young one did not complain, did
not cry, did not fret Not that he was
unconscious of the dangers that threat
ened his mother and himself His deep
look nd ated we'll enough that many
| Dltter thoughts pa sea Delore tlmt
through his chld's brain.
Finally his courage gave way, and this
is why-th baker was there; he wanted
money and refused to let them have
bread on credit any longer, only unit
the next day.
At this moment the favorite axiom ot
his parent, vi "It is the duty Of chill
drcn to support their mammas wher
! they cannot work any more, was re
..o,,, bnra1 l,, h